Trying To Decide Where To Live

"Since an advanced devotee carries Lord Vishnu within his heart, he is a moving temple and a moving Vishnu. An advanced devotee does not need to go to holy places, for wherever he stays is a holy place." (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 20.57 Purport)

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Friend1: You ever play this game before?

Friend2: What game?

Friend1: Deciding where to live.

Friend2: How is that a game? It’s a practical decision.

Friend1: I should be more specific. If you have the choice to live anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Friend2: Money is not an issue, I presume?

Friend1: Right. Forget about finding work. Pretend that you have enough money to live in any location. We don’t have to be specific about the type of dwelling. A simple apartment will do for this example.

Friend2: That is an interesting exercise. Have you come up with any answers?

Friend1: I am a fan of America, but I don’t like the cold.

Friend2: You could go to California, then. There are some places where it is basically the same climate throughout the year.

Friend1: That’s true, but it’s a little crowded there.

Friend2: Okay, you want some space?

Friend1: Yes. I was thinking about Arizona.

Friend2: It can get very hot there, and it’s dry most of the time, too.

Friend1: I think that is fine for me. I prefer to see the sun; every day if possible.

Friend2: You will certainly get a lot of sun there.

Friend1: What about holy places, though? I might want to live in Vrindavana or Jagannath Puri.

Friend2: Those are great places, as well.

Friend1: Is there any advice from shastra?

Friend2: For practicing devotional service, bhakti-yoga, living in a dhama is certainly beneficial. In addition to the auspiciousness associated with the place, there are the saintly people congregating. You could get sadhu-sanga without a problem.

Friend1: That is what I was considering.

Friend2: At the same time there is increased vulnerability to cheating, especially in modern times. A person just has to show up in these cities wearing a specific dress and they won’t have to work for a living. They can say a few words about Krishna, pick up donations, and then do whatever they want behind the scenes.

Friend1: It seems like there are a lot of such cheaters around today.

Friend2: There is also the instruction that a person shouldn’t be very eager to live in a holy place.

Friend1: Umm, doesn’t that contradict what you just said?

Friend2: Think about it, though. It has to be true. If living in a specific place were a requirement, then that would diminish the potency of bhakti-yoga.

Friend1: You mean that it should be able to flourish in any place, even one far away from direct association with Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Friend2: Exactly. A saintly person is considered a traveling tirtha, or place of pilgrimage. Teachers like His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada go one step further; they increase the influence through their recorded teachings, found in book form. Books like Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead are like travelling tirthas, also.

Friend1: I see. How do I answer the question, though? If given the choice, where should I live?

Friend2: A personal decision. Find out where bhakti practice will flourish, at the individual level. It might be in a dhama; it might not. Wherever you can chant the holy names with faith, focus and attention, where your love for God will only increase, that should be where you live. When you are chanting regularly as such, your influence will inspire others, too.

In Closing:

In hypothetical situation to give,

To find ideal place to live.

Climate warm with sun,

Some with distractions none.

What about going to sacred place,

Where saintly people to grace?

Wherever bhakti practice to flourish,

Increased devotion to nourish.

What Can This Child Do To Me

“In the childhood form, wearing nice jewelry and clothing, He plays in the dirt and His limbs become full of dust. With child-like speech, Rama plays with all the brothers and children.” (Dohavali, 117)

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bāla bibhū।sana basana bara dhūri dhūsarita aṃga |
bālakeli raghubara karata bāla bandhu saba sanga ||

The swan-like person looks for the good in others. When they meet someone new, they overlook the bad qualities. After all, which one of us is perfect? Who among us hasn’t lied at some time? Who hasn’t made a costly mistake, one to regret later on?

The saintly person is like a swan in this way, which can separate milk from a mixture of water and milk. The saint understands that each person derives their strength from the same source. Prahlada Maharaja, the wise son of a king, once tried to explain this to his father, who was wicked in nature.

“Prahlada Maharaja said: My dear King, the source of my strength, of which you are asking, is also the source of yours. Indeed, the original source of all kinds of strength is one. He is not only your strength or mine, but the only strength for everyone. Without Him, no one can get any strength. Whether moving or not moving, superior or inferior, everyone, including Lord Brahma, is controlled by the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.8.7)

The asura is crow-like. They tend to behave the opposite of the saint. They see someone and immediately look for faults. It’s not difficult. You can criticize any type of clothing. Each person has a unique way of walking, and so that is eligible for ridicule, as well.

The asura is constantly threatened, so they size up other people, whom they view as competition. Deep down the naradhama, the lowest among men, knows that death will finish everything. They try to prolong life as much as possible, enjoying the senses to the fullest. Lying, cheating and stealing are okay, because hey, you only live once.

The standard bearer for the asuras is Ravana, who was actually in a Rakshasa body. This is a kind of man-eating ogre. He was strongly against God, to the point that when he saw the Divine directly he was not moved in the proper direction. He looked for faults. He scanned the visual and known activities for any vulnerabilities.

Fortunately, the Supreme Lord is not a miser in this area. He gives to everyone what they want. As they surrender to Him, He rewards accordingly. If the asura wants to compete with Him, Bhagavan allows for that competition to take place.

“All of them - as they surrender unto Me - I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.11)

In the avatara of Shri Rama, the Divine gave signs of vulnerability to Ravana by living in the forest of Dandaka. The king of Lanka could never understand this. Ravana lived in a city literally made of gold. He was extremely wealthy, had tremendous fighting prowess, and was intoxicated constantly. In summary, there was no shortage of material enjoyment, as many beautiful queens lived in the palaces.

Ravana thought Rama was weak for having left the kingdom of Ayodhya at the order of the mother and father. Rama should have fought back. Perhaps He was afraid. Maybe He was lacking confidence. This was Ravana’s line of thinking.

One can imagine the demon’s thought process were he to witness pastimes from several years prior. Goswami Tulsidas provides a glimpse in his Dohavali. The poet says that Rama plays in the courtyard of the king, Maharaja Dasharatha. Rama is beautifully dressed. He wears nice jewels and necklaces. At the same time, the limbs are dirty. This is because Rama plays in the dirt.

God is not alone. He is with the three younger brothers: Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. They are also in the childhood stage of life. The other children from the community are there, and together everyone is playing. Rama speaks like a child, also, which means that His sentences and words aren’t perfect.

The enemy would use this as fuel for their way of life. How can God speak like a child? How can He have limbs covered with dirt? How can He be dependent on others for feeding? These are signs of weakness.

The saints know the truth, that in any form Bhagavan retains His true potency. Before there were any visible signs of manhood on His face, Shri Rama defended against one of Ravana’s most skilled advisors, Maricha. The testimony was relayed directly to Ravana later on, as a warning to not misjudge Rama.

“At the time, there were not yet visible any signs of manhood on the boy’s beautiful face, which was dark-blue in complexion and had an all-auspicious gaze. Rama had a gold chain round His neck, a small tuft of hair on His head, wore only one piece of clothing, and held a bow in His hands.” (Maricha speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 38.14)

Indeed, the child Rama once swallowed a devotee crow and showed the universal form from within His belly. Whether large or small, no one can measure up to God. The saints take delight in His childhood pastimes, and they know that they are protected from Ravana and those like him, who try to make the material world even more miserable than it already is. Those who have Rama’s protection can cross over the ocean of suffering easily, as if it were like jumping over a small puddle.

In Closing:

From a single visual to take,

Gross misjudgment to make.

That Rama weak and small,

That playing on dirt to fall.

Maricha warning against one time,

That Ravana harsh lesson to find.

But asuras in this way encouraged,

By ample evidence not discouraged.

Four Aspects Of Bhagavan That Are Lotus-like

“How can that female swan who is accustomed to sporting with the king of swans amidst lotus flowers ever cast her eyes on a water-crow that stays amidst bunches of grass?” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 56.20)

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The lotus flower is the symbol of purity. It has this unique ability to remain untouched in spite of contact with something that is otherwise contaminated. The lotus flower floats atop the water, which may have dirt and other rubbish things inside. The dirty side is attractive to the crows, and the lotus flowers to the swans.

Sita Devi, the princess of Videha, once used this comparison to describe why she could never be with the King of Lanka. She compared herself to the swan swimming amongst the most beautiful lotus flowers with the king of swans, represented by her husband, Shri Rama. As a swan-like person, she couldn’t now associate with the crow-like Ravana.

As a symbol of purity, it is not surprising that the lotus flower is often used when describing God. In His transcendental form, four specific aspects are compared to that flower.

1. The navel

There is an origin to everything. Even though there is always a beginning to a beginning, to trace out the history of all living things we reach someone who is Himself sanatana. That is to say He has no beginning and no end. What we deem to be a starting point is merely a marker; the universe goes through cycles of creation, maintenance and destruction.

For our understanding, Vishnu exists when nothing else is around. This is one name for God, and it refers to a specific personality, also. God is more than an abstract concept. He is beyond imagination. In that four-handed, beautiful manifestation, Vishnu has a lotus-like navel; hence one of His other names is Padmanabha.

From that navel grows a stem with a lotus flower. Lord Brahma, the creator, emerges from that flower, and he gets to work using the material energy, consisting of three modes. Brahma is like a painter sitting in front of a canvas. Every species we know of is a combination of spirit and matter, with the matter consisting of goodness, passion and ignorance. While Brahma is labeled the creator, it is the lotus-like navel of Vishnu which is actually responsible.

2. Hands

Vishnu’s hands are lotus-like; more specifically the palms. Vishnu descends to earth as Krishna, which is a two-handed form of the same original Deity. Evidence of Krishna’s lotus-like hands are found throughout Vedic literature.

One time those soft and beautiful hands tried to carry grain to meet a fruit vendor. The grain would suffice as payment, but unfortunately most of it fell to the ground during transit. The vendor was enchanted by the child Krishna regardless, so she made sure those hands did not leave without carrying something in return. She filled the hands with fruit, even though hardly any payment was made. As God never leaves the devotees poorer as a result of interaction with Him, the vendor soon noticed that the contents of her basket had been transformed, from fruit to jewels.

3. Eyes

Many names address this feature. One is Aravindaksha. Krishna’s eyes are like lotus petals. A person can stare at them constantly. While God can see with any body part, even in a supposedly unmanifest form like the Supersoul the eyes are special. When they blink even more loving feelings arise.

4. Feet

The lotus feet are the ideal object of meditation. Don’t focus on void. Don’t just sit in silence, with your eyes closed. Gaze upon the beautiful feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Serve those feet and soon become a servant of the servant of God.

Start at the feet and then gradually work your way up. The process is helped along by the deity in the temple. This is the chief resident in a house of worship. While God’s form can never be limited to a statue or painting, through His Divine mercy the replica is as powerful as the original. This is only for the devotees, as the image they contemplate in the temple soon remains with them wherever they go, making life in the difficult material world much easier.

Those feet are soft, despite walking on the hard ground. In the sacred land of Vrindavana, the cows are so happy to see Krishna that milk constantly drips from them. This softens the ground so that the lotus feet don’t feel any discomfort.

In Closing:

In four places like lotus known,

The flower from navel grown.

Petal-like eyes a stunning sight,

Gopis for vision even at night.

Palms of the hands grains forsaking,

But fruit from the vendor lady taking.

Lotus feet object for meditation,

Taken at temple visit occasion.

Why Do You Always Focus On Man’s Limitations

“Modern scientists have stopped their brainwork by discovering the theory of uncertainty, but factually for a living being there cannot be any brain activity which is not checked by time and space limitations. A living entity is called anu, an atomic particle of the supreme soul, and therefore his brain is also atomic. It cannot accommodate unlimited knowledge. This does not mean, however, that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, has a limited brain.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.24.42 Purport)

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Friend1: The body is like a holding cell.

Friend2: As in a temporary place for the spirit soul to reside?

Friend1: More than that. It limits what the soul can do.

Friend2: How can you say that? Look at the amazing things human beings have been able to do. Flying into outer space. Creating the smartphone. Wireless communication. Not to mention achievements in sculptures, paintings, building skyscrapers and bridges.

Friend1: That’s the thing. The soul is capable of doing even more. The abilities of the soul are beyond our comprehension.

Friend2: What is your evidence?

Friend1: Look at what Krishna can do. He is the Supreme Soul. He is not different from us in that way. He is a soul, but for Him the body is not limiting. In the transcendental form of a small child He can hold up a massive hill on His pinky finger for seven days. He can defeat the threat of a great whirlwind. He can show the entire universe and more in a single image.

Friend2: That is true.

Friend1: So you agree with me, then? The body is like a holding cell.

Friend2: Sure.

Friend1: And so extending the abilities of the limiting body is sort of a waste of time.

Friend2: Well, trying to extend them without knowledge of the limitation surely is. We can discover gravity and other important aspects of nature, but what does that really do for us? Have we transcended death?

Friend1: No, but in ages past people thought air travel was impossible. I’m sure they didn’t think you could speak to someone thousands of miles away, with their voice sounding crystal clear.

Friend2: You think death can be stopped at some point?

Friend1: That is the objective of the scientists.

Friend2: Even though you just compared the body to a holding cell?

Friend1: I wanted to establish that you agree to that characterization. In Vedic literature, and especially commentary in recent times by acharyas, emphasis is there on the limitations of the body. Don’t you think that is a negative? Shouldn’t we be trying to inspire people to reach beyond?

Friend2: You mean to reach for the stars, to not settle for what life has given you?

Friend1: Exactly. Just because you are a woman it doesn’t mean you have to be dependent and subservient. Just because you are born into a certain financial situation doesn’t mean you have to live like that forever.

Friend2: Oh boy, you are in wonderful territory here.

Friend1: Why do you say that?

Friend2: Because that is the whole flaw with material existence. You think you can make the limited unlimited. Only God has that property. We are unlimited as spirit soul, but in the illusion of maya we think the same can be done while in a material body.

Friend1: Why so negative, though? Why bring people down?

Friend2: Actually, it’s the other way around. Lying to people, having them waste valuable time, is way more negative. It is positive to say that you can find eternal living, with limitless happiness, through dharma. Spiritual life is the constitutional way of living.

Friend1: But why the emphasis on the limitations?

Friend2: Unless you know the limited, how can you know the unlimited? If you think that you can be without limitations, how will you turn to the shelter of the one who can give you eternal life, serving Him and loving Him? That is the reason for the emphasis. Shine the light on what is wrong so that the turn can be made towards what is right. Force will not work. A loving relationship has to be entered into voluntarily. That is why Krishna is described in comparison to things that we know. He is the force behind what we mistakenly attribute to randomness. He is the certainty behind the uncertainty. Our brains are limited by time and space, but His is not.

In Closing:

Of uncertainty behind,

The origin to find.

Beyond randomness clear,

Controlling both far and near.

Body with different makeup so,

With great limitations know.

For purpose with emphasis told,

To shelter of bhakti grab hold.

A Bridge To Cross The Ocean

“The one who is pure, having an eternal form of bliss and knowledge, who is the standard bearer of the solar dynasty - Shri Rama performed amazing activities in a human form, celebrating which creates a bridge to easily cross over the ocean of birth and death.” (Dohavali, 116)

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suddha saccidānandamaya kanda bhānukula ketu |
carita karata nara anuharata saṃs।rti sāgara setu ||

Shri Rama is known for His bridge. Since He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan, the physical object used for transportation could have appeared at will. Just as Bhagavan is sometimes prakata, or appearing before the eyes, and sometimes aprakata, or apparently invisible, any collection of material elements can appear and disappear according to His will. Those elements are part of His energy to begin with.

The Rama setu was built by dedicated and loyal servants. Some of them hadn’t known Rama for very long; they met Rama and His brother Lakshmana in the forest of Dandaka. At the same time, every living entity has been intimately connected to Bhagavan since the beginning of time. As God is both beginning-less and endless, so are the living entities.

That property is mentioned here, as well. Sach-chid-ananda means eternal, blissful and knowledgeable. For God there is no distinction between body and soul, matter and spirit, and by extension, birth and death. He is always sach-chid-ananda, and so for Him building a bridge is not difficult.

The loyal devotees did something amazing, though. They built the bridge out of rocks. Not starting from the bed of the ocean and working their way north, the rocks floated from the beginning. This was a concession provided by the ocean, who is also devoted to Rama. Each aspect of the material creation has a presiding deity. That is the intelligence behind what we consider to be bereft of life.

Goswami Tulsidas speaks of another kind of Rama-setu. This bridge is for crossing the ocean of birth and death. That ocean is samsara, or full of suffering. From the beginning of life to the end, there is very little time for peace. Perhaps in the bliss of ignorance there is a respite, but that is not real. It is something like being elated at winning the lottery in a dream. Reality eventually returns.

Rama is the lone reality, who expands to generate the living entities, who are also eternal. The ocean of suffering is difficult to cross because so many attachments form along the way. From those attachments consciousness gets altered, and consciousness is what determines the next destination for the departing soul.

Celebrating, remembering, and hearing about Rama’s activities is like a bridge because consciousness gets fixed on something entirely pure, shuddha. With the modes of material nature there is always some kind of contamination. Even work in the mode of goodness is tainted with temporary happiness and a false sense of pride. The demigods in heaven have these impurities arise every now and then, even though they are on an elevated platform.

Though Rama is Bhagavan, He kindly appears in a human-like form, to perform activities that can be remembered and celebrated. In that role He carries the flag for the solar dynasty, enhancing its glory through His triumphs. The example He sets is the one for subsequent generations to follow.

Rama’s association increases the importance of the solar dynasty, and in the same way those connected to Him through devotional service rise above the suffering of the material ocean. They can cross over easily, without having to work hard at construction. The power of the name itself makes the rocks float, allowing for safe and easy passage: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Bridge for Shri Rama making,

Out of rocks to float taking.

Not order for Him tall,

Since already controller of all.

Tulsi of another bridge saying,

Made of remembrance and praying.

To Lord who in solar dynasty came,

By Him increased its fame.

The Two Factors Beyond The Scope Of The Mind

“Modern scientists have stopped their brainwork by discovering the theory of uncertainty, but factually for a living being there cannot be any brain activity which is not checked by time and space limitations. A living entity is called anu, an atomic particle of the supreme soul, and therefore his brain is also atomic. It cannot accommodate unlimited knowledge. This does not mean, however, that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, has a limited brain.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.24.42 Purport)

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“Body my holding cell.” The individual spirit soul is amazing. Though infinitesimally small in size, it lights up, so to speak, bodies large and small. Both the tiny ant and the large elephant have the same animating force within. That spark is so potent that the moment its presence is absent, the previously capable body starts to decay. The change is immediate, and what was once full of life becomes lifeless.

“Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.29)

While the soul is amazing, the body is limiting. The atomic unit is described as anu in Sanskrit. One anu inside of a material body, with many other such combinations surrounding. The material element known as the mind is used for thinking and this is also limited, namely by two factors.

1. Space

While a subtle element, we can still perceive the range of applicability of the mind. For instance, I cannot tell what you are thinking. Perhaps from past observations and my own intelligence I can make an educated guess at a particular moment. Many such guesses form the basis of scientific disciplines like sociology and psychology.

In reality, these are just art forms, as there is the issue of randomness. A person gets up at the exact same time each day for several months in a row, but one day they change up the pattern. There is no explanation. There is no rhyme or reason. The difference is attributed to randomness.

The mind cannot travel to distant places. It is limited to the local space, i.e. the body. Running, walking, travelling - any type of movement is limited in the same way. The mind also cannot comprehend the concept of infinite space. Travel as far as possible in one direction, but know that there is never an end. Barriers surely exist, but there is always some space on the other side.

2. Time

In Sanskrit time is known as kala. The word is synonymous with death. As time heals all wounds, it also erases everything auspicious. What goes up must come down. For the tree the reversal is after thousands of years, for the fly perhaps a day, and for the human being maybe one hundred years.

The mind has difficulty understanding past, present and future. What existed before is no longer around. What is here today may not be here tomorrow. There is no end to the future, as once you reach a certain point there is something beyond, as well.

The same applies for the past. Science theorizes as to what existed in the beginning, what caused the amazing intelligence evident in the nature in which we live. Even if the conditions at the beginning were known, the issue remains of the past from there. Something existed even before the beginning.

In this area the only real answers come from spiritual life, i.e. that which is not material. Indeed, one way to understand the Deity is through the conduits of time and space. God is beyond the limitations of the human mind. He is not bewildered by time and space, for He creates both.

He is paramanu, or the supreme atomic unit. While the anu is local and individual, paramanu is singular and all-pervading. In this way God hears and sees everything. He is the great witness. He is never limited by the body. He can lift a giant hill in the form of a child and hold it up with His pinky finger. He can cover the three worlds with three paces while within the form of a dwarf. He is the greatest in size, also, in the universal form.

The limited should understand and serve the unlimited. That is the benefit to receiving such knowledge. Otherwise the exercises are merely academic. Yes, I am limited by time and space, but what should I do now? Should I forget the fact and simply enjoy the senses? Should I try to reverse the laws of nature and strive to become unlimited myself?

The unlimited helps the limited by protecting their service. He ensures that the work they do for Him does not go to waste. Though death arrives regardless, the destination for the devoted soul is vastly different from the person who desires to maintain their competition with time and space. The shelter of the Divine is such that the limited can become unlimited by practicing the inexhaustible and eternal engagement known as devotional service. They start this practice very easily while within the temporary body by chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Material with limitations to find,

Like even with most intelligent mind.

How to go beyond space,

Or into original past to chase?

Infinite, thus not possible so,

Only Supreme Lord to know.

Better that His lotus feet serving,

Instead of in aimless directions diverging.

Three Amazing Things God Does With Respect To The Universe

“The whole universe is maintained by the integrating power of the Supreme Lord, who is known in that capacity by the name Sankarshana. The material scientists may have discovered the law of gravity, which maintains the integration of objects within the material energy, yet the master of all integration can create devastation by the disintegrating blazing fire emanating from His mouth.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.24.35 Purport)

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The sun, the moon, the stars, the planets, the oceans, the mountains, the rivers, the hills, the valleys, the sand, the forests, the trees - so much variety and nuance to the material creation. Including the population of creatures inhabiting the different areas, intelligence is all around.

Nowhere do we have evidence of intelligence resulting from nothing. At the same time, it is difficult to imagine a single person responsible for such amazing variety, which has properties that continue to be discovered by what is known as science.

Throughout the centuries different intelligent minds have added to the knowledgebase, moving forward in what is described as progress. What is more amazing is that these properties existed all along. A discovery can never be more important than the actual engineering. In that sense the single source has several responsibilities associated with the material world that can never be matched.

1. Creation

As already mentioned, the intelligence had to come from somewhere. There is speculation that a bang of chemicals occurred, but nowhere has the process been repeated. There is no experiment that can take one or many chemicals and then have a collision that creates something like the sun. Just one planet, floating in the air on its own, not needing refueling or other human intervention - a single instance would go a long way towards proving the theory.

The Vedas attribute creation to God. If that word is not preferred, then Almighty will do. In Sanskrit there are many names for the one who can never be pinned down to a single description. In this respect He can be understood as the original creator, the single source responsible for everything we see.

He has the ability to create because He is the source of all energies. There is the unmanifest material substance, known as pradhana. He glances over it and then expands to be the soul of every incarnation and iteration. He is the purusha to the prakriti, spirit to matter. We are also purusha at the individual level, in the local sphere, but the original purusha is also with us in the expansion form known as Supersoul. Without His presence nothing could exist.

2. Integration

God is also known as Sankarshana, in which role He uses the integrating power to maintain everything that is created. The sun has been around since before anyone can remember. There is no recorded history of the sun’s creation; at least with respect to modern science. Theories abound, but there is no documented evidence.

The planets are similarly there, and they stay in place. The earth doesn’t suddenly fall out of orbit. In material science there is the law of gravity. Certainly a wonderful and important discovery, but again someone had to make it for it to be discovered. God is gravity and more.

3. Disintegration

What gets created and then subsequently maintained can also be destroyed. We see small instances of this disintegrative power through the influence of time. Known as kala in Sanskrit, time is also death. It destroys the body gradually, eventually leading to the exit of the individual soul, who travels to another body to take birth again. The sober person is not bewildered by these changes.

The disintegration reaches full potency at the time of dissolution. The entire universe gets destroyed. It is like the energy is withdrawn, going back to the source. One way this is described in Vedic literature is breathing. When God exhales, the universes and their component planets come into existence. When He subsequently inhales everything gets destroyed. The time in between is for maintaining.

Such knowledge is presented so that valuable time is not wasted in trying to discover things that already exist. We know that creation, maintenance and destruction take place. There is no great mystery. The question is how to make use of the valuable human birth. What is the real purpose?

A simple solution is to better know the original source. Find out who He is, where He lives, what He likes, and what can be done to please Him. Since He survives through the changes brought on by time, He can bring the same power to those who serve Him. After all, the living entities are expansions coming from Him, but instead of being part of the destructible material energy, they are part of the eternal spiritual energy.

The spiritual eternals have a corresponding eternal engagement, one that doesn’t involve chasing money, fame, wealth, power, influence or notoriety. It doesn’t involve sleeping day after day or being lost in depression. The eternal occupation has fulfilling and rewarding activities, which bring inexhaustible bliss, to last beyond this lifetime and others. The spiritual beings get a taste of that bliss through the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

First creating by one,

Maintenance also done.

Then everything dissolved at end,

Devastating fire and rain to send.

Through God, as Sankarshana also known,

Integrating and destructive power shown.

Better than to waste valuable time,

His location and true nature to find.